Finding the courage to be courageous: Peterborough Culture Forum

September’s Culture Forum session took us on an unexpected adventure - quite literally inspired by Bilbo Baggins himself. The first of Rose Croft's three sessions, From Comfort to Bravery, explored the delicate balance between feeling safe enough to create and finding the courage to step beyond our comfort zones.

The space prioritised comfort: decorated tables and a healthy dose of carbs met us in Peterborough Museum, in true spirit of The Shire. Discussions revealed a common truth: feeling safe to create requires more than just physical space. Some people described a need for time without pressure, freedom from judgment, and often the presence of supportive people who understand our creative journey. Others spoke of quiet studios, trusted art classes, and dedicated creative time as essential ingredients for their artistic confidence.

The group shared moments when creativity felt impossible. We spoke of times when external pressures, fear of judgment, or simply not having the right environment made artistic expression feel too risky. Time constraints emerged as a common creativity killer, along with the weight of others' expectations and the fear of not being "good enough." Recognising what makes us feel unsafe in our creative practise, enables us to actively work to change those conditions.

The magic happened when we explored what helps us transition from unsafe to safe - and then from safe to brave. We shared our strategies: supportive art classes, encouraging friends, dedicated creative time, and the gradual building of confidence through practice. Stories emerged of first open mic performances, career changes for mental health, joining new creative groups, and the monumental act of showing work publicly for the first time. Bavery isn't always grand gestures - sometimes it's just the courage to keep going, to maintain momentum when fear creeps in.

Together, we reinforced that creative bravery isn't about dramatic leaps - it's about recognising and rewarding ourselves for small steps forward. Whether that's sharing work with a friend, trying a new medium, or simply setting aside dedicated creative time, each act of courage builds toward the next.

Attendees:

·      Kate Hall, Jumped Up Theatre

·      Rose Croft, artist and this session’s facilitator

·      Sam Smith, Jumped Up Theatre

·      Jen Roberts, Jumped Up Theatre

·      Phillipa Bradbury, artist/researcher

·      Hilary Steele, poet

·      Pip Jamie Gardner

·      Ann Bellamy, artist

·      Yasmine Bradley

·      Caroline Stone

·      Kelly Jesus

·      Asher Walker

·      Emily Bowers

·      John Clark

·      Anna Gosh

·      Jen Walker